How difficult is it to keep Beckford's Pencilfish?

Beginner. This is a beginner-friendly species. No special equipment or experience is required, and it can be kept successfully with basic care setup.

What is the ideal temperature for Beckford's Pencilfish?

The ideal temperature for Beckford's Pencilfish is 23〜28℃. Avoid sudden temperature changes and maintain a stable environment.

What is the lifespan of Beckford's Pencilfish?

The average lifespan of Beckford's Pencilfish is 3-5 years. With proper care and nutrition, they can live a long and healthy life.

How large does Beckford's Pencilfish get?

Beckford's Pencilfish typically reaches 4-6cm as an adult. Size may vary depending on care conditions and individual genetics.

What should I feed Beckford's Pencilfish?

Beckford's Pencilfish feeds on: Flakes, frozen foods. Aim for a balanced diet with appropriate feeding frequency.

What is the typical price for Beckford's Pencilfish?

The price of Beckford's Pencilfish varies significantly depending on morph, size, and lineage. Check our market price page for the latest pricing information.

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Beckford's Pencilfish

Beginner

Nannostomus beckfordi

Small tetra with characteristic thin pencil-like body. Beautiful gold and black longitudinal stripes running along the body, with mature males developing red coloration on the belly. Peaceful and popular for community tanks.

Difficulty

Beginner

Temperature

23〜28℃

Lifespan

3-5 years

Size

4-6cm

Diet

Flakes, frozen foods

About

Beckford's pencilfish (Nannostomus beckfordi) is a slender characin widely distributed across the Amazon and Orinoco River basins and the Guiana region of South America. At 3–4 cm, its pencil-thin body is marked with a sharp gold-and-black longitudinal stripe and reddish fin highlights. Among the most readily available and beginner-friendly pencilfish species, it is also among the most distinctive: during the day it swims horizontally, but at night it adopts a characteristic head-down angled resting position — often alarming new keepers who interpret this as illness. Peaceful and compatible with most small fish and shrimp; however, it can be susceptible to fin nipping by more boisterous tankmates, so careful selection of companions is advisable. Diet consists of fine granular foods, frozen daphnia, and baby brine shrimp. Breeding by egg-scattering over fine plants is achievable in a well-established, stable setup.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Lifespan of the Beckford's Pencilfish

The Beckford's Pencilfish lives 3-5 years.

Size of the Beckford's Pencilfish

The Beckford's Pencilfish grows to 4-6cm.

Temperature & humidity for the Beckford's Pencilfish

The ideal temperature for the Beckford's Pencilfish is 23〜28℃.

Soft, slightly acidic water (pH 6.0–7.0) at 23–28°C is preferred, with blackwater setup enhancing coloration.

Basic Info

Origin

Amazon and Orinoco River basins, South America

Care Specifications

pH: 6–8
Hardness (GH): 5–19 dGH
Water Temp.: 23–28℃

PeacefulGroup

Sources: FishBase / Seriously Fish

References & Sources

Edited & verified by: BreederDirect editorial team

The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.

Primary sources

Taxonomy & Authority

Accepted name: Nannostomus beckfordi Günther, 1872

Synonyms: Nannostomus anomalus Steindachner, 1876, Nannostomus aripiragensis Meinken, 1931, Nannostomus aripirangensis Meinken, 1931, Nannostomus beckfordi anomalus Steindachner, 1876, Nannostomus beckfordi aripirangensis Meinken, 1931, Nannostomus beckfordi beckfordi

Authority databases: FishBase · GBIF

Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.